Blossoming before my eyes

My little girl turned one... this mommy was elated and distraught all at the same time. How can she be one already? This little face and smile makes my bad days okay, my good days even better, and lights up my life in more ways than I could have ever imagined. She has certainly changed our family but it is for the better. With her bows and diva moments, her teasing of her brothers (who accept it more and in a different manner than they do from one another), her sweet giggle and even her ear piercing screeching... I adore every once of this precious little soul.

This is one spoiled and sweet little girl. She enjoyed cupcakes with the nannies and her friends at "school" and then we had a small celebration and cake after dinner the day of her birthday.

 

 

 We worked on how to blow out the birthday candle for awhile, but she didn't quite get it....

 

So the big brothers stepped in and helped her out.

 

The weekend following her birthday we went to a small local botanical garden for Hannah's enchanted garden flower party. The children LOVED playing at the garden, planting flowers, coloring, and making a keepsake stepping stone for Hannah.

 

While all her friends played... Hannah enjoyed the food! As soon as she learned to walk - a month or so before her birthday - she has been on the move. It is either all the running around she does or the fact that she just loves food... but she is quite the little eater. And she is such a mess - I don't think I have one picture of her without a dirty face.

 

After several attempts of trying to get her pose and take a picture at the park, I gave up and let her just run around, eat and have fun! It's her birthday, she should be able to do what she wants. Wouldn't you know it, as soon as we go to leave... she takes a seat in the parking lot, smiling and posing for pictures.

 

We followed up the garden party by having friends and family over to the house for cake and presents. My friend makes the most beautiful cakes for the children. We are so blessed to have such great friends in our lives and our children are blessed as well -- they are loved so very much by so many people!

 

A truly special day to celebrate our special May flower who has blossomed right before our eyes!

 

 

He is Risen!

 It was a beautiful Easter! A few of the precious moments of the day...

 

After a beautiful service at church, it was back home to look around and find our Easter baskets!

 

 Samuel LOVES Spiderman. He calls himself Spiderman Samuel. He sleeps with his Spiderman toys. He wears Spiderman shoes. When he draws pictures - it is always of Spiderman. You can imagine his excitement of an Easter basket filled with Spiderman toys and books.

 We grilled steaks and boiled crab legs for Easter dinner this year! Something a little different. The kids LOVED it!